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Egypt summons Pakistani diplomat over condemnation of Mursi's sentencing
Ousted Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi waves behind bars during a his trial with other leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood on charges of spying and terrorism at a court in the police academy on the outskirts of Cairo, November 18, 2014. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh
CAIRO, May 26 (Aswat Masriya) - The Egyptian Foreign Ministry summoned the Pakistani charge d'affaires over an official Pakistani statement that showed "considerable concern" over the preliminary death sentence handed to ousted president Mohamed Mursi.
The charge d'affaires was summoned on Monday to notify him that "Egypt fully rejects" the statement issued by Pakistan, the Egyptian ministry said in a statement, on Tuesday.
On May 19, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry said in a statement, "Pakistan, therefore, underscores the fact, highlighted by many other countries, that the dispensation of justice must be based on the principles of equity and fairness."
It added that Pakistan hopes the Egyptian government will "take steps to meet the requirements of justice under law and would show compassion in case of political prisoners."
Egypt told the Pakistani charge d'affaires that the Pakistani statement poses as "intervention" in Egyptian affairs and bears "unacceptable" comments on the Egyptian regime, which is "fully independent".
The Egyptian embassy in Pakistani capital Islamabad relayed the same message to Pakistani authorities.
On May 16, the Cairo Criminal Court referred Mursi and 105 other defendants to the Grand Mufti to issue his opinion on handing them death sentences, for escaping from prison.
A referral to the mufti is a step that must be taken within Egypt's court system ahead of handing a death sentence.
In an espionage case, where Mursi is also a defendant, the court also decided to refer 16 defendants to the Grand Mufti to give an opinion on sentencing them to death but a decision on Mursi's fate in this case and 19 other defendants will be issued on June 2.
As a result of the court decisions, criticism was leveled by several groups and countries, including the pro-Mursi Anti-Coup Alliance, the Palestinian Hamas movement, international watchdog Amnesty International, the European Union, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Egypt has vehemently rejected the condemnations and reactions, particularly objecting to comments on the judiciary. Egypt's Foreign Ministry said last week that it has followed the reactions with "extreme disappointment".
